BPU

VAN DREW, ALBANO AND MILAM URGE CORZINE AND REGULATORS TO PURSUE NJ BUSINESSES FOR WIND FARMS

Proposal for Small Wind Farm – 8 Turbines – Within NJ Waters Could Make State First in Nation to Harvest Off-Shore Wind Energy

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – First District Legislators, Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam, today applauded Governor Corzine’s calls for triple the energy output to be produced by offshore wind farms by the year 2020, and urged State regulators to consider wind farm proposals from local businesses as part of the State’s renewable energy solution.

“Governor Corzine’s plans for the role of off-shore wind energy in New Jersey are going to have nation-wide and world-wide implications,” said Senator Van Drew. “If this is done the right way, it could be a great economic opportunity for South Jersey, and New Jersey will be the first-in-the-world to harvest significant amounts of energy from off-shore wind farms. However, to make these plans – and the Governor’s energy goals – a reality, we’re going to have to reach a critical mass, and open this up to other bidders.”

Statement from Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12) on the hung jury in the BPU whistleblower trial:

"While a jury may have been divided on whether Jeanne Fox retaliated against an employee who identified mismanagement at the BPU, the State Auditor and Treasury Department have confirmed in no uncertain terms the vastness of her mismanagement. It's time for Chairman Adler to end this circus and her tenure of mismanagement."

Reconfirmation Hearings Would Focus on General (Mis-)Management and Whistleblower Trial

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman John Adler (D-6) to commence the long-delayed reconfirmation hearing of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Jeanne Fox.

Continues Call for Corzine to Find Better Candidate to Lead BPU

Senator Jennifer Beck (R-12) is continuing her call for Governor Jon Corzine to nominate a person with experience, knowledge and no political baggage to lead the Board of Public Utilities.

Rudderless BPU Hurts Consumers

Senator Jennifer Beck, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Governor Jon Corzine today asking him to withdraw his re-appointment of Jeanne Fox to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The BPU is the regulatory agency that sets the rates consumers pay for electricity, natural gas, water, telecommunications and cable television. The letter is attached.

If Frank Lautenberg’s political consultant, Steve DeMicco, beats up on Rob Andrews – as he surely will – how will that affect the already controversial renomination of his DeMicco’s wife, Jeanne Fox, as President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities?  John Adler is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is holding Fox’s nomination until after the trial of whistle-blower who claims retaliation for reporting a potentially illegal an $80 million ratepayer-funded Clean Energy account established by Fox.  And South Jersey, Andrews’ base, has six Democratic Senators – which means if the GOP comes through with their pledge to oppose Fox, she can’t possibly get confirmed without the support of South Jersey Democrats.

When it comes to BPU President Jeanne Fox’s reappointment, Gannett’s Bob Ingle and Gregory Volpe have been working overtime.

Based on recent coverage, it appears the Gannett chain is the only NJ newspaper paying close attention to the current storyline about Fox’s day-in-court-defense to a whistle blower complaint and the pending Senate review of her reappointment as Board President.

Senate Judiciary Committee John Adler will hold the nomination of Jeanne Fox until after the completion of a whistleblower trial, according to an Asbury Park Press report today.  Gov. Jon Corzine reappointed Fox to the state Board of Public Utilities, despite from a top BPU official alleging that Fox and others retaliated against him for alerting the state that Fox set up a potentially improper $80 million account outside the supervision of the State Treasurer.

Among the donors to Save Our State NJ, the issue-advocacy group essentially formed by Governor Jon Corzine to advocate his plan to raise tolls, is Public Service Electric & Gas. PSE&G has contributed $100,000 to the effort, according to sources familiar with the SOS group. That might explain Corzine’s reluctance to quickly release the list of SOS donors.

Editor's Note: The Inside Edge strongly stands behind our original report that PSE&G pledged $100,000 to Gov. Corzine's Save Our State NJ toll hike advocacy group, despite communications that seek to demonstrate otherwise and a release of their donors at the end of the day.

As Jeanne Fox prepares for her Senate confirmation hearings following her nomination to another term as President of the state Board of Public Utilities, it is interesting to note that her husband, Steve DeMicco, was the consultant on the 2007 campaigns against two Republicans who now serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee.  DeMicco worked for Ellen Karcher and Seema Singh, who lost to Jennifer Beck and Bill Baroni, respectively.